A Moment in Botswana We’ll Never Forget

WAM
Oct 1
3 min read

Back to the Okavango Delta: A 30-Year Promise Fulfilled in Botswana

After twelve hours of bouncing through dust clouds and dodging potholes the size of small bathtubs, our weary team finally reached the edge of the Okavango Delta. The journey wasn’t over yet. From there, we loaded into long, narrow boats and began a four-hour ride through crystal-clear waters, winding our way past watchful hippos and lurking crocodiles. The finger-like waterways twisted through vast estuaries — water so still it reflected the sky like glass. It was hard to believe we were heading somewhere so untouched — a place few people would ever see in their lifetime.

But for us, this wasn’t just an expedition. It was a return. A fulfillment. A mission set in motion 30 years ago.

A Seed Planted Long Ago

Three decades earlier, a different team had made this same trip — same dusty roads, same Delta, same tribe. They had come with one thing: the Jesus Film, translated and shown through the help of interpreters, as there were no Bibles yet in this tribal language.

When the film ended, something miraculous happened. The chief of the village gave his life to Jesus. Touched deeply by the message, he asked the team to stay and share more. But without scripture in their language, and limited time, the work could only go so far. The team promised to return one day. And now — 30 years later — we did.

The Gospel Arrives — In Their Own Words

This time, we didn’t just bring stories. We brought 50 printed copies of the Gospel of Mark, finally completed in their native tongue. For the first time ever, the tribe would be able to read God’s Word in their own language — to see, understand, and hold it in their hands. We also brought food — a boatful — as a practical gift of love and provision. With the chief’s blessing, we set up our camp near the village, our tents nestled beneath wide African skies and surrounded by the sounds of the wild.

And yes, the hippos really did graze near our tents at night.

Nights by the Fire, Conversations That Matter

Each evening, we gathered by the campfire, our team laughed, told stories, worshipped, it was a collision of past and present — of seeds planted long ago, now being watered and harvested in God’s perfect timing.

The Journey Was Worth It

The bumpy roads, the sore backs, the boat ride, the dirt, the heat, the sleepless nights... it all faded in comparison to the joy of seeing people being able to read Scripture in their own language for the very first time. We were just one small piece in a long story of hard work, faith, perseverance, miracles, and obedience — proof that the Kingdom moves forward one faithful step at a time.

You Never Know What Your “Yes” Will Lead To

30 years ago, someone said yes.They went, they shared, they trusted.We got to carry that yes further — and you can too. Whether you’re called to plant seeds, water them, or harvest them — every part of the mission matters. And sometimes, God lets you return to see the fruit of a promise fulfilled.